Guatemala’s President Alvaro Colom has announced that he is extending the country’s declared state of siege that is in effect in the provinces that border Mexico.
Colom put the original state of siege in place back in December of 2010 that sent hundreds of military troops to border areas that were being overrun and controlled by the violent Los Zetas drug cartel from Mexico.
The President feels their efforts have been successful but incomplete therefore justifying the 30 day extension “because more needs to be done.” In a statement the President said, “Organizing crime is not just infiltrating us, it pains me to say it but drug traffickers have us cornered.”
The state of siege allows the Guatemalan military to hold suspects without warrants, curtails public gatherings, prohibit gun possession and also controls local media reporting.
